Album Notes

INTRO MUSIKMAG (Germany)
(Translated from German)

His expressive voice and seamless lyrics prove him to be an experienced dealer in emotions. Mature, convincing US-guitar rock with a pinch of ethnicity that seems to grow with every listening.

BIG SHOUT Magazine (USA)

When Joseph Parsons' debut 'Lies...' was released in 1995, it was a genuine triumph. As an unsigned artist, he had released a collection of earnest and emotive songs (most notably the standout 'Borderline') that generated both the airplay and the fanbase it deserved. On his followup '5am', Parsons finds a way to take his music to the next level.

The opening track 'Sister Moon' is a scorcher: sounding like an outtake from the recent Page/Plant sessions, it has a distinctly Eastern feel. With the wailing vocals of Soni Moreno drifting just beneath Parsons' acoustic power chords, the song is a fitting introduction to the new direction he has taken.  But the track that stays with me the longest is the cathartic 'You Lied.' What makes Parsons great is his ability to express complicated emotion in lyric. Though his voice has been compared to Live's Ed Kowalczyk, I believe it is more flexible and certainly more expressive. '5am' is another standout collection of 11 tracks from an artist whose recognition is, in this reviewers opinion, inevitable.

WATT MAGAZINE (The Netherlands)
(Translated from Dutch)

Most of the albums of American folk & country label Blue Rose Records miss that little bit of extra aroma & color. That the label doesn't have just colorless mainstream artists is proven with the American Singer/Songwriter Joseph Parsons, with the suprisingly strong and well produced album '5am'.  Parsons doesn't only write catchy meaningful songs that really stick, but on top of that he is blessed with an extremely powerful and pleasant voice. And his is the rare exception rather than the rule in the singer/songwriter genre. (*** out of 4)


MUSIC MINDED Magazine (The Netherlands)
(Translated from Dutch)

Real emotions packed in small film-noire scripts of 4 minutes. Parsons chooses the company of a rock band for the musical frame. Sister Moon does not get surpassed. Beautiful.